Electron-Beam-Induced Luminescence Studies of Thermospheric Temperatures and Molecular Concentrations: Instrumentation for Aerobees AO 3.006-1 and AO 3.910-1

摘要

Two Aerobee 150 rockets were instrumented for investigating thermospheric temperatures and particle densities. Electron-beam-induced luminescence was used as a diagnostic technique to investigate the rotational and vibrational distributions of thermospheric N2(X singlet Sigma(g)(+)) and to determine absolute number densities of N2 and O2. The first flight was made under disturbed (auroral) atmospheric conditions, whereas the second was made under quiescent conditions. The present report provides background information on the technical problem and on the investigative technique which was adopted, documents the development of instrumentation for the two payloads, and briefly summarizes available results from the two flights. (Author)